About Us

NOVAFRICA mission is to produce expertise with an impact on business and economic development in Africa

NOVAFRICA mission is to produce expertise with an impact on business and economic development in Africa

NOVAFRICA is a knowledge center created by the Nova School of Business and Economics of the Universidade Nova de Lisboa in 2011. Its mission is to produce expertise with an impact on business and economic development in Africa. A particular focus is on Portuguese-speaking Africa, i.e., Angola, Cape Verde, Guinea-Bissau, Mozambique, and Sao Tome and Principe.

Knowledge created by NOVAFRICA is based on the top-quality economic and management research produced by its members. This research is meant to reach all interested stakeholders through policy recommendations, operational and strategic advice to companies and organizations, consultancy and capacity building in Africa.

NOVAFRICA includes a resident team of renowned professors at the Nova School of Business and Economics, and also a team of established external members based on prominent international institutions. The NOVAFRICA team has a diversity of backgrounds and a broad range of areas of expertise relevant to research on economic development in Africa. NOVAFRICA also has an Advisory Board including several experts on economic development policies in Africa, and also the NOVAFRICA Student Group, a group of Nova SBE students who participate and energize all activities of the center.

The NOVAFRICA center develops research activities in the areas of economics and business management with the purpose of collecting rigorous evidence that has real impact. As a result of these activities, the center produces both academic publications of relevance to the development process, and publications that are more applied in nature – including publications that contribute to manager training or to the design of public policies. The center also promotes local capacity building activities such as internships and training initiatives, and offers consulting services in its areas of expertise.

NOVAFRICA also organizes events such as conferences, seminars and debates in Lisbon and in various African locations with the purpose of disseminating knowledge produced by the center, and promoting exchanges and the creation of networks among the participants.